Process and apparatus for twisting threads



Aug. 5, 1969- E. HAMEL 3,458,933

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TWISTING THREADS Filed Feb. 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edmund Hamel INVENTOR.

Attorney Ahg. 5, 1969 A E HAMEL 3,458,983

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR 'IWISTING THREADS Filed Feb. 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Edmund Hamel INVENTOR.

Attorney United States Patent Int. Cl. D01h is/so, 13/12 US. Cl. 57-35 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a system in which threads are twined by a two-stage twisting process, the high-speed uptwisting in the second stage is performed with threads wetted in the first stage to a moisture content of -200%, preferably 50%, based on the weight of the dry threads, the wet yarn adhering in the second stage to the inner peripheral surface of a bell or sleeve spacedly surrounding the bobbin to minimize ballooning.

My present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for twisting threads, generally as disclosed in my prior US. Patents Nos. 2,972,856 and 3,164,950, wherein a. plurality of threads are twined together in a first rtwisting stage including a ring spindle, the yarn constituted by these threads being wound on a bobbin core with a relatively low rate of twist whereupon the resulting bobbin is mounted on a high-speed second-stage spindle for uptwisting at a relatively high rate.

In such systems, the rapid rotation of the yarn about the bobbin axis during uptwisting tends to cause ballooning which involves the risk of entanglement between threads from adjoining bobbins. This risk is minimized by enclosing the second-stage bobbin support within a coaxial sleeve or bell which, advantageously, rotates with the bobbin while spacedly surrounding same, the yarn being withdrawn upwardly through an axial opening at the top of the sleeve.

Although this expedient effectively protects the yarn against thread rupture due to entanglement with other yarns, a uniform unwinding of the bobbin does not invariably occur because the slightly tensioned yarn is rotata=bly entrained only by the revolving air column surrounding the bobbin within the sleeve. As already suggested in my German Patent No. 1,136,251, the yarn can be entrained more positively if, upon leaving the bobbin, it i allowed to float on a pool of water partly filling the sleeve, the wet yarn thereupon adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve so as to partake of its rotation together with the spindle while being readily detachable from the sleeve surface. This insures a more orderly withdrawal of the yarn from the sleeve and also facilitates the treatment of the filaments by some watersoluble agent.

Experience has shown, however, that it is diflicult in practice to maintain a desired liquid level in the rotating sleeve and to insure a reasonably uniform degree of wetting of the emerging yarn; thus, with the bobbin only partly immersed in the water, the yarn from its upper turns will be drier than that from its lower ones. Furthermore, a the liquid level drops during the unwinding operation, its surface tension may become insufiicient to keep the rising yarn in continuous contact with the water bath.

The general object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved process and apparatus which Patented Aug. 5, 1969 ice affords the advantages of wet second-stage uptwisting while eliminating the aforestated drawbacks.

This object is realized, pursuant to the present improvement, by a wetting of the yarn-forming threads during the first twisting stage, i.e., during the building of the bobbin on a ring spindle or the like, the degree of wetting being sutficient to bring the wet and therefore relatively heavy yarn through centrifugal action into contact with the inner sleeve surface and to cause the formation of a liquid film on that surface, with resulting adhesion of the yarn to the sleeve in the manner envisaged in my German patent but without any need for maintenance of a pool of Water in the sleeve itself. In fact, the process according to my invention operates even if the sleeve is not rigid with the spindle but is held stationary.

In principle, the threads may be wetted by a liquid other than water, including various oil or liquid parafiin; also, brighteners, bleaches, colorants and other adjuvants soluble in the medium may be dissolved therein to treat the filaments.

I have found that, when the yarn is to be wetted with an aqueous medium, the amount of moisture in terms of the dry weight of the threads should be ranging between about 10% and 200%, preferably between substantially 15% and 50%. Since the threads pass at relatively high linear speed through the first twisting stage, several immersions may be needed in order to provide the necessary degree of moisture saturation.

On the other hand, the wet yarn emerging from the sleeve of the uptwisting stage will readily give up some of its moisture to the surrounding atmosphere so as not to be excessively damp upon being rewound on a final reel or spool.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which;

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first twisting stage of a system for performing my improved twisting process; and

FIG. 2 is a view of an axial section of a second twisting stage forming part of the same system.

The twisting stage shown in FIG. 1 comprises a pair of spools 1, 2 delivering threads or filament 1', 2 to a deflecting roller 5 from which they are jointly led through an eye 6 to a transport mechanism here shown as a pair of parallel rollers 7, 8 of different diameters. The gathered filaments pass one or more times around the two rollers which are driven, by means not shown, in the direction illustrated by the arows. After traversing another stationary eye 9, the resulting yarn 10 is given a slight preliminary twist by being wound in a bobbin 15 on a core 15 removably seated on a vertical spindle 22 which is journaled in a stationary bracket 24 and is rotated by a belt 13 at a predetermined speed with reference to the feed rollers 7 and 8. A traveler ring 14 revolves about the spindle axis on an annular track 11 which i mounted on a frame 12 adapted to move vertically in a manner known per se.

In accordance with this invention, I provide a plurality of vessels 28a, 28b containing water or some other suitable liquid having the necessary wetting characteristics. The yarn 10 is held down by idler rollers 29a, 29b partly immersed in the bath. Upon emerging from the second bath 28b, the yarn is permeated by liquid which, if aqueous, should range between preferably 15% and 50% of the dry Weight of the yarn, the maximum range being 10% to 200%.

FIG. 2 shows the bobbin 15 mounted on a spindle 16 which is rigid with a surrounding sleeve 16, the latter being open at the top. The wet yarn 10 passes upwardly from sleeve 16 via eyes 18 and 19 onto a take-up reel 20 which is frictionally driven by a roller 21 maintained in contact therewith by a spring 27 anchored to a supporting arm 26.

Sleeve 16, spindle 16' and bob-bin 15 are rotated at high speed about a vertical axis A by drive means including a belt 23, the spindle being journaled in a bracket 25. Reference is made to my above-identified US. patents for suitable operating speeds of the two stages shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Owing to its high moisture content, yarn wets the inner surface of sleeve 16 against which it is thrown by centrifugal force. Thus, the yarn adheres to the sleeve up to a certain level at which it is drawn off into the eye 18, with little if any ballooning. The portion of the yarn underneath eye 18, freely exposed to air and revolving at high speed about axis A, gives up part of its moisture before being wound onto reel 20.

EXAMPLE I Dry cotton thread is twisted in the stage of FIG. 1 and, with the use of a single wetting station 28a or 28b, is impregnated with water in a portion of 11.75% of the weight of the dry thread. In the stage of FIG. 2, this moisture content is reduced to 1.9%.

EXAMPLE II Through the use of both wetting stations 28a and 28b the same cotton thread is wetted to an extent of 27.5%. Upon its emergence from the sleeve 16 of FIG. 2, the moisture content of the yarn drops to 6.9%

It is to be understood that my invention can also be practiced with the sleeve 16 held stationary.

I claim:

1. In a twining process in which yarn is drawn upwardly from a rapidly rotating bobbin'spacedly surrounded by a sleeve, the improvement wherein the yarn is wetted before being Wound on the bobbin, the degree of wetting being sufiicient to form on the inner peripheral surface of said sleeve a liquid film causing the yarn to adhere to said surface while being drawn from said bobbin.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein the wetting of the yarn is carried out in a preliminary stage in which a plurality of constituent threads are twisted together to form the yarn.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said threads are repeatedly contacted with moisture in said preliminary stage.

4. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein the amount of moisture in the wetted yarn reaches between substantially 10% and 200% by weight of the dry yarn.

5. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said amount ranges between 15% and by weight of the dry yarn.

6. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein the moisture content of the yarn is reduced by partial drying during removal thereof from said bobbin.

7. In a plant comprising a first twisting stage for twining a plurality of threads to form a yarn, said first stage including a ring spindle adapted to receive a bobbin core onto which said yarn is wound and a second twisting stage in which the yarn is drawn upwardly off said bobbin while the latter rotates about a substantially vertical axis, said second stage including a rotatable bobbin support and a yarn-guiding sleeve coaxially surrounding said support, the combination therewith of wetting means at said first stage for moistening said threads to a sufiicient extent to form a liquid film on the inner peripheral surface on said sleeve whereby said yarn adheres to said surface while being drawn otf said bobbin.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said Wetting means comprises a plurality of wetting stations positioned for sequential traverse by said threads.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said sleeve is rigid with said support for joint rotation therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,996 5/1935 Hoefinghotf et al. 57-35 XR 2,089,021 8/1937 Foster 57-35 XR 2,089,193 8/1937 Dreyfus 57-35 2,454,830 11/1948 Newton 57-164 XR 2,603,938 7/1952 Rodgers 57-108 2,972,856 2/1961 Hamel 57-156 3,164,950 1/1965 Hamel 57-156 FOREIGN PATENTS 313,690 8/1918 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES German Printed Publication No. 1,136,251, Edmund Hamel, September 1962.

DONALD E. WATKINS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 57-7, 162, 164 

